Style entirely inspired from Beckett's Waiting for Godot...
The gym
‘They’re all carrying bottles now.’
‘Water?’
‘No. Bottles-bottles. Metal ones. Handles. Colours.’
‘Hydration.’
‘Display.’
A pause. ‘They dress for it.’
‘For drinking water?’
‘For the gym.’
‘Ah.’
‘Hours preparing. Tight sleeves. Small tops. Hair done properly. Looking in mirrors before they leave.’
‘Like before dancing.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Nobody dances now.’
‘They lift things.’
‘To music.’
‘Always to music.’
‘And others watch?’
‘That’s the point.’
‘Thought the point was health.’
A laugh.
‘Health.’
‘No?’
‘Partly.’
Silence.
‘You should see them arriving. Groups of them.’
‘Like pilgrims.’
‘To the sacred treadmill.’
‘And mirrors.’
‘Important mirrors.’
‘Very important mirrors.’
A longer pause.
‘We had mirrors too.’
‘We had nightclubs.’
‘Bad shirts.’
‘Good shoes.’
‘Too much scent.’
‘Too much hope.’
Silence.
‘One evening could change everything then.’
‘You thought so anyway.’
‘Maybe that was enough.’
‘Now they think it happens beside a rowing machine.’
‘Or while holding a protein shake.’
‘They still prepare themselves to be seen.’
‘That never changes.’
Silence again.
‘One of them told me he goes every day.’
‘Why?’
‘Said he feels better there.’
‘Better than where?’
‘Didn’t say.’
‘Maybe he meant better than being alone.’
A pause.
‘They all stand together looking at themselves.’
‘Which is almost company.’
Silence.
‘They speak differently there too.’ ‘
How?’
‘Push day. Pull day. Cutting. Bulking. Reps. Sets.’
‘Religious language.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Every religion needs suffering.’
‘And special clothing.’
‘And photographs.’
‘Many photographs.’
‘Proof.’
‘Of existence.’
Neither speaks for a while.
‘Do you think they enjoy it?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘And the rest of the time?’
‘They improve themselves.’
‘Dangerous activity.’
‘Very.’
Silence.
‘Still better than waiting.’
‘Is it?’
Neither moves.
Links:
Lisa Damour – Untangled (2016)
David Epstein – The Sports Gene (2013)
For identity and physicality Brené Brown – Daring Greatly (2012)
On vulnerability and expression Youth Sport Trust & UKActive reports on adolescent gym use Informal interviews with teens about gym culture and motivation
British Psychological Society – Research into exercise and teen identity
Mental Health Foundation – Movement and wellbeing resources